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Rory McIlroy says that the Augusta course is ‘fiery’ on the third day of the US Masters where he carded a one-under-par 71 to sit on three over for the tournament.

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Rory McIlroy played with a nameless man Saturday at the Masters. But that mystery man’s play had people buzzing to figure out who he was — none other than Augusta National course-record holder Jeff Knox.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. – Rory McIlroy went from Masters contention, to being clipped by a noncompeting marker in the span of 24 hours.

It’s not as bad as it sounds.

This marker is not just your ordinary marker. This is Jeff Knox, Augusta National’s official marker. He is the marker of all markers. He is an Augusta National club member who holds the course-record, a, 11-under-par 61 from the member tees. He will beat you and not feel badly about it.

To brush up on marker duties, when there are an odd number of players that make the cut at the Masters, Augusta National calls on Knox to fill the spot in the first pairing. A marker keeps the professional’s scorecard and helps keep the pace of play at a normal rate.

After the 3 hour, 15 minute round with McIlroy was over the scores read McIlroy 71, Knox 70. And that was with a two-shot swing on 18 when Knox made bogey to McIlroy’s birdie.

“I thought he was going to be nice and three-putt the last and we would have a halve, but he beat me by one,” Rory laughed.

Knox, who did not speak to reporters on Saturday, was first called upon in 2002 to play with Craig Stadler. On that day he holed out a wedge shot for eagle on the par-5 eighth hole.

Two years ago he played with Kelly Kraft, who was the reigning U.S. Amateur champion at the time. Last year he played with Keegan Bradley and Bubba Watson. He’s played with Sergio Garcia in the past.

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The best Knox story being tossed around Augusta National Saturday was that he once was a marker for Miguel Angel Jimenez. On that day, the story goes, Jimenez piped a drive down the middle of the first fairway. Knox stood up and did the same. Once Jimenez noticed how far Knox hit the ball he looked at Knox, pointed his finger, and blurted out a funny, “no, no, no.”

“I’ve played in a good bit of competition, of course, but nothing like this,” Knox told reporters two years ago. “The first couple of holes is a little nerve-racking. The first shot on No. 1, definitely. You just want to elevate the ball, that’s my goal. Get it off the tee.”

Well, that wasn’t a problem on this perfect Georgia day.

Knox made birdie on the par-5 15th hole after hitting a beautifully executed chip shot to about 4 feet. He made the putt. On the par-3 16th hole Knox hit his tee shot to about 8 feet, but he missed the birdie putt.

McIlroy finished birdie, birdie on the last two holes to shoot 71 and Knox made bogey for his 70 when he hit his approach into the greenside bunker and failed to get up and down.

“He obviously knows this place so well and gets it around,” McIlroy said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone putt the greens as well and he does around here. He was really impressive. I was thinking of maybe getting him to read a few of my putts out there.

“He played just like he should be playing in the Masters.”

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Rory McIlroy gave an early insight into conditions in the third round of the Masters after carding a 71 to lie on three over par for the championship.

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Graeme McDowell says he still has a lot of work to do if he is ever going to mount a serious challenge for the US Masters.

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Rory McIlroy accepts he has too much ground to make up after just making the halfway cut at the US Masters.

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Rory McIlroy narrowly makes the cut at the Masters but has to overcome hitting a sprinkler on 13 to keep his slim hopes alive.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. – For a player with an eventful history at Augusta National, Friday at the Masters was particularly adventurous for Rory McIlroy, the pre-tournament favorite.

The Ulsterman considered playing a shot that was closer to Berckmans Road than the fourth green at the par 3 before opting to re-tee, from a patch of azaleas behind the 13th green and into a massive hole 11 shots back at the year’s first major.

“I’ve seen a lot of this golf course in the last few years,” smiled McIlroy, whose collapse at the 2011 Masters began after he hit his drive at No. 10 on Sunday between two cabins.

On Friday, McIlroy’s adventures started at the fourth when his 5-wood tee shot caught a gust of wind and sailed 30 yards past the green and into some bushes. He would double-bogey the hole.

McIlroy’s 9-iron approach at the par-5 13th hole hit a sprinkler head and bounded into the azaleas behind the green and he scrambled for what was a good bogey considering the circumstances.

“I had a couple of really bad breaks on 4 and 13,” said McIlroy, who is tied for 46th at 4 over par. “I felt like I played well coming in. I gave myself looks at birdie almost every hole. I couldn’t get one to drop. Felt like I had good putts and they were either hitting the high side of the hole or low side of the hole.”

Despite his steady finish, McIlroy knew he’d put himself into a bad position in his quest to claim his first green jacket. “Eleven shots back with two rounds to play is nearly impossible,” he allowed.

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Rory McIlroy shoots 77 to narrowly make the Masters cut as only two British players remain under par at Augusta.

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Rory McIlroy believes his chances of landing a first Masters title are “nearly impossible” after he made the cut with nothing to spare.

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